Are you looking for a way to eat healthier this year? What about supporting local businesses? By joining the Lawrence CSA, you can do both!

CSA stands for community supported agrigulture.  By joining the CSA, you will receive a basket of fresh, hand picked  produce every week! Luckily for residents at Washington Mills, the CSA pick up location is a 5 minute walk down Canal Street at Chester’s Bell Tower!  By joining your local CSA, you are making an investment in the farm, and in return you receive a portion of their bounty.

There are many benefits to joining the CSA. Some of those include:

• Eating locally—creating a direct connection to the source of your food and the farmer and increasing your knowledge about what can be grown here and when
• Access to high quality, fresh, locally-grown produce that tastes better!
• Better nutrition and health
• The chance to discover new vegetables, to share recipes, and to expand your knowledge of storing and preserving produce
• Decrease environmental impacts associated with growing and shipping produce
• Getting to meet new people and visit with old friends at the pickup site  (http://www.groundworklawrence.org/csa)

Registration for the CSA is happening now.  Contact Anna at 978-974-0770 for details.  This year’s CSA is being run by Farmer Dave.  Click here to get information, pricing and to register online!

Stand up against violence in Lawrence! Join V-Day Lawrence at this special presentation being held at Chesters on Sunday February 19th from 2-4pm.

V-Day Lawrence is kicking off it’s 2012 Campaign Against Violence with a day of expression through spoken word, music, visual art, and dance performances.

All proceeds from this event will benefit the YWCA of Lawrence, MA, Sixteen Candles, Inc. and Haiti.

For more information, call 617-233-6394 or email vdaylawrence@gmail.com.

Chester’s Bell Tower is located at 60 Island Street, Lawrence, MA, 01840

Take your valentine to Salvatore’s restaurant to celebrate your love! In honor of Valentine’s Day, Salvatore’s is offering a special menu. This menu is being served from February 11 through February 14.  Call now to make your reservations (978) 291-0220. Salvatore’s is located minutes from Washington Mills and is renowned for its great food and service.

Appetizers

Grilled
Calamari with Radicchio and Endive Salad $14

Marinated
calamari, served over a bed of arugula, Belgian endive and radicchio

 Lobster
Bisque $10

Smooth
lobster bisque finished with chunks of lobster

Eggplant
Rollatini $12

Fried
eggplant stuffed with ricotta, spinach, parmesan and mozzarella, topped
with marinara sauce.

Main
Course

Lobster
Risotto $26         

Lobster,
grape tomatoes and arugula finished with lobster butter to give a deep lobster
flavor

Red
Snapper Aqua Pazzo $24

Fresh
red snapper filet sautéed with garlic, grape tomatoes and white wine

Jumbo
Shrimp, Zucchini and Homemade Pappardelle Pasta $23

Jumbo
shrimp sautéed with Evoo, zucchini, onions and ricotta salata served with
pappardelle pasta

Filet
Mignon with Wild Mushrooms and Truffle Risotto $29

8oz
filet served with wild mushrooms and truffle risotto

Dessert

 Apple Tart and Gelato $8

Warm
apple tart topped with caramel and Vanilla bean gelato

Flourless
Chocolate Cake $8

“Incredible”
It’s like eating chocolate butter

Look no further! This weekend you can nosh on desserts until your teeth hurt at An Evening of Sweet Indulgence!

Hosted by radio and TV personality Billy Costa, the goal of the evening is to crown the ‘Best Dessert in Merrimack Valley”.   Bakeries from around the area will be entering their confections in hopes of winning the title and recognition.  Participants include Cobblestones, Burtons, Moonstones, Sugar Coated Bakery, Fredericks Pastries, Edible Arrangements and many more! The evening will include dancing, silent auctions and of  course, dessert tasting.

Satisfy all of your sweet teeth at this event. It is sure to be delectable time! Information can be found here. Tickets are $35 in advance, and $40 at the door.

Salvatore’s Riverwalk is holding its first annual Father Daughter dance!

Just a short drive from Washington Mills, Salvatore’s is an upscale restaurant and bar which offers fine cuisine, entertainment and more.

The Father Daughter dance is being held on Saturday February 11, 2012 from 1p-4p.  Tickets are $20 per couple, and includes a flower and a photo.  For more details, click here.

This is such a cute idea, and right in time for Valentine’s Day!

Living in a loft gives you the unique opportunity to decorate in ways that many standard apartments will not allow.  Lofts typically have high ceilings , vast living spaces and lots of light.   Get your creative juices flowing with these simple ideas!

• Use interesting folding screens to divide up large spaces
• Bold, contemporary area rugs add color and warmth to your loft apartment
• Divide rooms up with bookcases! Fill them with more than just books- add ceramic, glass ware, plants and other decorative items.
• Have brick walls in your loft? Look for ‘brick clips’ to make hanging pictures easy!
• Lofts allow for oversized furniture. Get a modern look by incorporating leather pieces,  natural fabrics such as wool or silk, and adding accents with colorful pillows.

The People’s Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle is putting on a concert honoring the Great Strike of 1912. See how the Great Strike shaped the industrial revolution and changed history forever!

More information can be found here.

The show is being held at Lawrence High School Performing Arts center on January 27 at 7:30pm. Tickets are available at Lawrence Heritage State Park and Andover Bookstore.

Are you a fan of delicious, delectable desserts? If so, you must stop in to Cafe Verde, located at 275 Essex St, Lawrence MA!

Today I stopped in to Cafe Verde for a coffee, but I couldn’t leave without a piece of their vegan chocolate cake.  What is vegan cake? Its a cake baked with out any animal products like eggs or butter.  I can tell you that this vegan chocolate cake is one of the best I have ever tasted! It is moist and chocolaty and you would never know the difference!  Cafe Verde offers different soups and desserts every day.  Cafe Verde is well worth it, and only a short walk  from Washington Mills.

Have you been to Cafe Verde? What is your favorite item, coffee drink, or dessert?

Visit the Essex Art Center this month for two new art show openings!

Starting January 13th and running though February 24th, these shows feature local artists and their work.

Transitions in Light is a show featuring local Andover artist Roh Zeheb.  In this modernistic show, Ron creates images from holograms and laser beams.  It truly is magical to see!

Through Our Eyes is a collection of photographs taken by the Merrimack Valley Camera Club.  Come see this collection of images and support the Essex Art Center.

The opening reception for both shows will be held on January 13th from 5-7pm.

The Essex Art Center is located at 56 Island Street, Lawrence MA 01840. Just a short walk from Washington Mills, and next to Chester’s Bell Tower. The brand new parking lot is the first right after the EAC.

Cafe Azteca is one of the greatest restaurants in Lawrence, and luckily for residents of Washington Mills, it is a short walk right up Jackson Street!  They pride themselves on using the freshest ingredients and creating authentic and traditional mexican dishes.

I tried the Cheese enchiladas for lunch one afternoon, and they were delicious.  Served with a mild enchilada sauce, and a side of rice,it was the perfect meal f0r a busy day at work!  Cafe Azteza boasts a large menu with everything you could possibly be craving.

Stop by Cafe Azteca for lunch and let us know what you think!